Softball Sweeps Nichols

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader with visiting Nichols College on Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Park.  The host Bears won the first game, 12-0, and completed the sweep with an 11-0 victory in game two.  Both games were stopped after 4 ½ innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Bridgewater improves to 12-10 with two wins as the Bears have won eight of their last nine games.  Nichols slips to 4-16 on the season.

In the opener, BSU junior right-hander Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.) tossed a complete game, one-hit shut.  White (7-4) fanned seven and allowed just an infield single in the fourth as she recorded her fourth shutout of the season.

The Bears put the game away early by scoring eight times in the bottom of the first on three hits, an error, four bases loaded walks and three consecutive run-scoring wild pitches.

Bridgewater tacked on two more runs in the second and two more in the third to round out the scoring.

Senior Brianna Strecker (Waterford, Conn.) and sophomore Jessica Laudati (Berkley, Mass.) paced the Bears' eight-hit attack in game one with two hits apiece.  Strecker went 2-for-2 with a double, walk, three runs and an RBI, while Laudati finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run.

In game two, senior right-hander Meghan Dunn (Colchester, Conn.) went the distance in the circle for the Bears as she recorded her first shutout of the season.  Dunn (5-6) scattered four hits, walked two and struck out five.

The Bears jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one taking advantage of three Bison errors in the frame. Bridgewater pushed across another unearned run in the second on an RBI single by Strecker.

The Bears then sent 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run third inning to put the game out of reach.  Senior Melissa Harmon (Shrewsbury, Mass.), sophomore Emily Whitney (Norwood, Mass.) and Strecker each recorded RBI singles in the frame.

Strecker, Bettencourt and Laudati each finished with two hits to lead the Bears' ten-hit attack in game two.  Strecker finished 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI, while Bettencourt went 2-for-2 at the plate and scored two runs.  Laduati was also 2-for-2 with a run scored.

BSU freshman Jessie Barbosa (Dorchester, Mass.) recorded her first collegiate hit with a pinch-hit, line drive single to right in the fourth inning.

Freshman Jordan D'Aurio (Northford, Conn.) was the only Bison with multiple hits as she went 2-for-2 with a double.

Nichols committed six errors in the nightcap and eight in the twinbill resulting in 12 unearned runs on the day.

In upcoming action, Bridgewater travels to MCLA on Saturday afternoon for a MASCAC doubleheader with the Trailblazers starting at one.